Home » The Archives » Chapter 5 » Learning to Live in Paradise
| Re: Learning to Live in Paradise [message #1308 is a reply to message #1307] |
Thu, 26 July 2012 19:44   |
artisticrainey
Messages: 1228
Registered: July 2012
Location: Northern Ireland
Karma:
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Field Commander
Switzerland |
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As she waited, Dianne went over the notes she had made the evening before when she spoke to Elise in the pilot's apartment. She remembered how she had entered the apartment house lift and crossed to the opposite door, ringing the bell. It took a few moments, but a tired-looking Elise eventually opened the door. She was surprised to see Dianne.
"Dr. Tracy? What brings you here?"
"May I come in?" Dianne asked, schooling her face to a pleasant, non-committal expression.
"Oh, sure," Elise said, stepping back to allow the doctor to enter.
Dianne looked around at the decorations that the pilot had used to brighten up her apartment. "This is nice." She turned to Elise. "You do know that you can paint if you like."
"Yeah, so I was told by Dom. I just haven't decided what to do." Dianne nodded, and Elise looked at her quizzically. "So, I'll ask again: what brings you here?"
"You... and yesterday's simulator exercise," Dianne said softly.
Elise groaned. "So, what did Virgil tell you?"
"What went on. And he let me look at the session as well." Dianne indicated a chair, asking with her motions if she could sit. Elise nodded, and Dianne sat down, pulling out her PDA. "He's concerned, as is Scott... and as am I." Elise walked over to the French windows as Dianne continued. "It's my job to make sure that all of our team members are fit in every way. Physically, mentally, and emotionally." She paused. "Virgil believes you have Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder. With possibly another component."
"How would he know? He's no doctor!" Elise spat from her position at the windows.
"He knows because he's seen it before," Dianne said calmly. "And has dealt with it himself."
That got Elise's attention. She turned her head slightly. "He has?"
"Yes. This life is a very stressful one. There are rescues where you go out and try your hardest and still can't save everyone. Or where you make an error and someone dies." Dianne looked thoughtful. "Probably just about all of the veteran operatives have had to deal with it at one time or another. Myself included."
Elise ran her hands through her hair and turned to Dianne. "So. What do I do?"
"First of all, we sit and talk about the incident a little. I need to be sure of my diagnosis." Dianne smiled slightly. "You were right when you said that Virgil's not a doctor. But I am and I need to do some probing."
The pilot took a deep breath and let it out. "Then what?"
"Then we work on getting you back on track. It will mean some limited drug therapy, some behavior modification, and probably some psychotherapy as well."
"With you?"
Dianne nodded. "With me. One on one sessions."
Elise's shoulders slumped. "When do we start?"
"Well, we need to determine what the problem is now. Then you need a good night's sleep and we'll start to actually tackle it tomorrow."
Elise turned away again. "Do I have any choice?"
Dianne shook her head slowly. "No, not really. You can't go out on rescues the way you are now, Elise. In fact, until this is well on the way to being dealt with, I am grounding you. From the simulator and from flying."
The pilot rounded on Dianne. "You can't do that! You don't have the authority!" she shouted.
Dianne sat impassively for a moment, then said softly. "Yes, I can in my capacity as a physician with Tracy Industries and as CMO of International Rescue." She got up and approached the angry younger woman. "Elise, I saw the simulator recording. I can't risk something like that happening when you're in the cockpit. Not here. Not anywhere. Please. Let me help. Let me help get you back in the air."
Elise's head dropped and she said in a tear-filled voice. "I am just so tired. The nightmares... the simulator... I can't cope." She raised her eyes to meet Dianne's gaze. "Please help me."
"I will." Dianne said as she guided the distraught young woman to a chair. She opened a file in her PDA, and they began to talk.
Elise described her nightmares, and Dianne asked questions about the rescue of Jeff. Then she asked about Elise's parents.
"We were in a boat during a storm. The boat capsized and broke up and both my parents drowned. I was nine," Elise said, her voice going suddenly emotionless.
"So you were the only survivor?"
"Yes," she whispered.
"How do you feel about that?" Dianne asked.
"How am I supposed to feel?" Elise asked angrily. "Happy? Glad to be alive?" Dianne just looked at her. "Okay. I feel miserable. I feel like... like... like I should have died with them. Then I wouldn't have this huge hole in my heart."
Dianne nodded. She looked over her notes. "Elise, I think we are dealing with a case of PTSD compounded by a strong case of survivor's guilt."
"Survivor's guilt?" Elise asked. "I've never heard of that."
"Well, it's an overwhelming sense of guilt that survivors of traumatic and fatal events often feel. They wonder why they were spared when others, perhaps loved ones, died. It is something we can deal with in conjunction with the PTSD because the two seem to be intertwined."
"Okay," Elise said, sighing. "You've made your diagnosis. Now what?"
"This." Dianne took out the little bottle of sleeping pills. "These will make you sleep for at least eight to ten hours. We have to build up your physical stamina a bit, get you clear headed. You are to get dressed for bed, and I will give you one now. Then you're to go directly to bed. It doesn't take long for them to take effect. One per night for the next five nights. Then we'll determine if you need more, or a lower dose, or if we can switch you to another medication altogether. Then you are to see me tomorrow at 2 p.m. in the first floor lounge of the Round House. Neutral ground as it were."
Elise sighed again. "Okay. You're the doctor." And she went off to get ready for bed.
Dianne's musings were interrupted by the arrival of Elise. The younger woman looked around. "This is nice."
"Thanks. I just had it redecorated a few months ago. Please sit down." Dianne opened another file in her PDA. "How did you sleep?"
"Surprisingly well," Elise replied. "I don't think I dreamt at all."
"Good." Dianne said, rearranging herself in the chair. "Then let's get started, shall we?"
Post by Tikatue on 24/03/2005
  
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